Missed the last Bus. Lets have Lunch


Scanning last week's Berwickshire-as one does on wet days the Isle de France-Huttonian came across this letter=

SIR, - I want to bring readers up to date on the problems arising from our third world public transport service in Berwickshire.
For some years I have been passing on complaints about the inadequacy of the bus service connecting Berwickshire with Edinburgh and Berwick, and three issues have repeatedly been drawn to my attention by dissatisfied residents.
Firstly, there is no evening service to bring people home from the capital any later than 7.10pm.
If you are not car-mobile, theatres, concerts, late working, late shopping are all out of the question unless you impose on the kindness of friends and neighbours.
Secondly, suppose you are offered a job in Berwick upon Tweed. If you live in north eastern Berwickshire (Reston, Grantshouse, Cockburnspath and their environs) there is no service going toward Berwick in the morning until after 10am. Lucky the school leaver who has a friend or relative with an available car. Tough luck for those who don’t.
Thirdly, HM Government is trying, for good environmental reasons, to get people “out of their cars and into public transport”. What public transport?
Help from Councillor Michael Cook last year, secured me an interview with John Dellow, from Scottish Borders HQ, to discuss provision of an evening service that would help people get home from Edinburgh later in the evening. This took place over a year ago.
Nothing resulted from it except my being told of several reasons why the council is unlikely to do anything about it, even though I suggested a way it could be effected without sending an extra bus all the way to Edinburgh.
This would only involve sending a bus to Dunbar, to meet one of the late evening buses from Edinburgh which terminate there.
The only outcome of all this is that I now realise that the council has no intention of spending a penny extra toward bringing Berwickshire public transport into the 21st century.
You will have received, within the past week, a letter from John Lamont, MSP, raising issues regarding public transport. I suggest that you write to him at Holyrood and/or your councillor, and/or Mr Dellow at SBC and express your awareness of these concerns.
Mr Lamont’s letter makes the issue of public transport a hot topic at the moment.
I am therefore asking some people to join me in forming an action group. I am contacting one or two people who I know take this matter very seriously, and we would form a small committee.
We will undertake whatever legal and decent methods we can use; surveys, petitions, correspondence, maybe even demos.
Reader, please write to me and I will gladly put you on the mailing list as to the committee’s progress.
BOB HARRISON,
2 Ecclaw Cottages,
Cockburnspath.

Well there is a cause worth supporting and while you are at it demand a train service from Embra to Ber-wick after 9 pm. Without a car a theatre visit involves an overnight stay.

As for demos perhaps the good people of Hutton will do their bit. They can't get a bus back from Berwick sfter 4 pm, never mind Embra.

But avoid Sundays for a demonstration in Hutton-rioters being bussed in will not make it.

No Bus

(A bloggee has suggested borrowing the Ellemford Beaters Transport vehicle as a stop gap bus bringing revellers back from Edinburgh after 7.10 pm. A starter Mr Harrison?)

Labels: Borders Bus, The Berwickshire

  ¶ 10:32 AM